Research paper for modern philosophy, The Fable of the Bees by Bernard Essay

Research paper for modern philosophy, The Fable of the Bees by Bernard Mandeville - Essay Example What was also of great import was the style in which the whole work was written. Mandeville’s easy flow of verse sounded both rhetorical as well as downright practical at the same time. Just when the reader was getting used to his signature style, they were trying to find their bearings in a sea of ethical turmoil that Mandeville had cast them into. The kind of speculation that he forced upon his readers is what has made his work not just remembered, but also the subject of many philosophical and ethical discussions. Very often, the reader is left wondering whether they really grasped the meaning of the poem; hence reading and re-reading the poem continues to be a common occurrence. Mandeville’s work forced readers from all walks of life to look at the relativity of life rather than trying to find exhaustive answers to many problems. It became a tool to kindle the thought process of those who had come to accept the words of those in power – political, religious or otherwise. He seemed to enjoy turning upside down the very precepts by which people had lived for a very long time, paying no heed whatsoever to the discord that he had created not just between various groups of people, but within these groups as well. This essay endeavors to present a picture visualized by Mandeville, with special emphasis on the economic angle. Though religion, social and political perspectives are intertwined in this discussion, there is a concerted effort on the part of this writer to present the economics of a world portrayed by Mandeville. Before going into the economic aspects of Mandeville’s work it is essential to get into his mind and ascertain the exact (or near-exact) nature of the picture he tried to paint. A close look at how Mandeville viewed human psyche reveals a few surprising facts: the central element in his scrutiny of the human mind was his unshakeable belief that there was a basal irrationality demonstrated by humans that lead them to behave